Page 117 of Family Affair
“I’m fine. I’m better. What a day.” She hugged her mother, then Stella.
Dan followed them into the house.
“Lucy told me about the search.” Stella fussed about, taking Coco’s purse and moving Chap out of the way with her foot. “Now that Dan’s here, he will help you out with his expertise.”
“No.”
An awkward pause hung in the air following his abrupt declaration.
Of course, they don’t know Dan and I are done.
Coco ducked her head. “That’s all right. Dan, thanks for springing me out.”
“No? What do you mean no?” Trust Stella to not let the matter drop.
“It means that your two-timing friend deserves what she got. Trust me when I say it’s the last time I helped her out.”
Stella’s expression turned speculative. “Does it, by chance, have anything to do with your older brother?”
“Fuck you, Stella.”
“Oooh, the big man talk. Well, fuck you right back, Dan. ‘Last time’ – you were never there for her before, so I’m sure she won’t miss you.”
Dan turned to Coco and smiled coldly. “Having your friends fight your battles, I see. A whore and a coward. You’re a pathetic whiny bitch, Coco. And I don’t care anymore which of my brothers crawls between your legs. They are all welcome to take turns if they want.”
His ugly words hurt, like he intended them to, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain or her embarrassment at being insulted in front of her mother.
“Why did you come for me, Dan?”
“I called him.” Lucy’s voice was strained. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea… I’m sorry, honey.”
She almost groaned aloud. “It’s not your fault, mom, I…” She turned to face her mother as she spoke and broke off.
Lucy’s eyes were streaming tears. They ran in messy, twisting rivulets down her soft, lightly lined cheeks and caught on the corners of her trembling mouth.
Without thinking, Coco turned right back to Dan, swung her arm in a high arc and slapped his handsome face holding nothing back. “Get out.”
Dan’s head swung to the side from the force of her blow. Stella gasped. Her mother covered her mouth with both hands.
A red imprint quickly developed on the side of Dan’s face as he turned back to her, eyes narrowed. “That, my dear, was a big mistake.” He took a menacing step forward.
“I wouldn’t,” Cade’s voice rang out, carrying an unmistakable command.
Dan froze in motion. Coco’s heart rate shot into the overdrive.
Cade was standing just inside the door, at ease but tracking Dan’s every move with hot eyes.
Dan’s nasty expression turned downright ugly. “The lover boy! Like a genie out of the bottle. Do you perform magic tricks? Cum on command?”
“You were leaving.”
“Right.”
Quick as a snake, he grabbed Coco by the hair, bringing their faces close. “Be careful, bitch. Cade won’t always make it in time. And I have a long memory.”
He let go as quickly as he grabbed her and turned to leave… only to bump into Cade who was now blocking his exit.
“Apologize, asshole,” Cade snarled, and his eyes darkened to the pools of liquid burning anger.
